Update

[Guest guest]

Bethanne,

I am so happy for you that you took charge and got such fantastic

results from the new doctors office. That is the one thing that was

the most valuable lesson for me upon finding out I have this disease--

Take Charge of My Own Health!!! Afterall, no one else knows our

bodies like we do and no one else can tell the doctors what we are

feeling, thinking and doing about it. I am also happy that have

confidence in this new doctors way of doing business. Isn't it

wonderful when people show they really care?

I had my last bloodwork done last wednesday and haven't heard the

results yet. I have been on the Imuran for over two weeks now. Have

noticed lack of appettite, some nausea, and joint pain. My next appt

with the gastro doc is on the 26th.

Happy Holidays,

Joanna in WA state

AIH 8/01

>

> Hi!! I just wanted to update you all on what happened with the

docs today. I called my new one and they couldn't get me in.

However, they had me drop off copies of everything and within 2 hours

they called back and raised my dosage of prednisone to 20mg, ordered

a bunch of new blood work that I'll have done tomorrow, and ordered

me to have LFT's checked again in one week. This office is already

way ahead of the game in my book. They are so nice, get back to me,

and I'm not dealing with a secretary. They also seem to know what

they are doing!! The most important thing of course. I thank all of

you for your input and advice. It really was helpful.

>

> Thanks again,

>

> Bethanne

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Bert, I am very pleased!! Already received my blood orders for next week in the mail and I didn't even talk to them until 3 yesterday. I think this office stays on top of things. Have to go have 6 viles taken today. IT ought to be fun dragging both kids in there to get it done!! LOL!!

Bethanne

[Guest guest]

Thanks !!

Bethanne

[Guest guest]

Joanna,

I hope everything comes back fine on the bloodwork. I had one really bad day of nausea, couldn't get out of bed was so sick, and they called me in a prescription. They don't think it was from the Imuran, but no one else in my family got sick so I don't really think it was the flu. I have two kids that I'm hugging and kissing on all the time. I hope the side effects don't get too bad to bear. Good luck!

Bethanne

[Guest guest]

You should of had your results in a few days. Call your dr. to find out if the results have come back. Mine usually takes just a couple of days. Ann [ ] Re: Update Bethanne,I am so happy for you that you took charge and got such fantasticresults from the new doctors office. That is the one thing that wasthe most valuable lesson for me upon finding out I have this disease--Take Charge of My Own Health!!! Afterall, no one else knows ourbodies like we do and no one else can tell the doctors what we arefeeling, thinking and doing about it. I am also happy that haveconfidence in this new doctors way of doing business. Isn't itwonderful when people show they really care?I had my last bloodwork done last wednesday and haven't heard theresults yet. I have been on the Imuran for over two weeks now. Havenoticed lack of appettite, some nausea, and joint pain. My next apptwith the gastro doc is on the 26th.Happy Holidays,Joanna in WA stateAIH 8/01>> Hi!! I just wanted to update you all on what happened with thedocs today. I called my new one and they couldn't get me in.However, they had me drop off copies of everything and within 2 hoursthey called back and raised my dosage of prednisone to 20mg, ordereda bunch of new blood work that I'll have done tomorrow, and orderedme to have LFT's checked again in one week. This office is alreadyway ahead of the game in my book. They are so nice, get back to me,and I'm not dealing with a secretary. They also seem to know whatthey are doing!! The most important thing of course. I thank all ofyou for your input and advice. It really was helpful.>> Thanks again,>> Bethanne>>>> --------------------------------->

[Guest guest]

Bethanne,

Got the results in the mail today. Things are definitely improving

since starting the Imuran. Also, the nausea is improving. I still

think the worst part for me is the fatigue and joint and muscle

pain. I took my sister to town today to finish her Christmas

shopping and I am so tired. She has Myotonic Dystropy and is

developmentally disabled. We were only shopping for 3 hrs. but I am

sure paying for it tonight. Then around 4:00, I remembered that I

forgot to call the dr. to renew my sleeping pills yesterday and their

office is closed on Thursdays. I am sure hoping that I will sleep

tonight. Otherwise, I will probably be on the computer all night.

Take care,

Joanna

>

> Joanna,

>

> I hope everything comes back fine on the bloodwork. I had one

really bad day of nausea, couldn't get out of bed was so sick, and

they called me in a prescription. They don't think it was from the

Imuran, but no one else in my family got sick so I don't really think

it was the flu. I have two kids that I'm hugging and kissing on all

the time. I hope the side effects don't get too bad to bear. Good

luck!

>

> Bethanne

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

I am so glad to hear they are improving!!! 3 hours of shopping would wear me out any day!! Of course I don't like to shop though!! I hope the aches and pains go away. I had them when they started reducing my prednisone but luckliy it pretty much went away. Just have it when I over do it. Have a happy holiday and hope you got some sleep!!

Bethanne

[Guest guest]

Donna-

Great news!!! Maybe just growing pains?

Diane (, 2, pauci)

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,

Very glad to hear this encouraging news. I hope the lab results will also be promising, to rule out JRA. I know you've been very concerned. Hopefully you'll be breathing a sigh of relief ... soon : )

Aloha,

Georgina

Hey gang...the update on my son is this...So far so good. His joint evaluation was normal but I will not have all lab results until Tuesday. I will keep ya posted!!! Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,

Ow! I sure hope your hip feels better soon. I didn't know that replaced joints could pop out of the socket like that. Did it just happen in the regular course of things ... or were you doing something strenuous/contortionist-ic ?

I'm so happy to hear that your son's doc ruled out JRA. Yea!!! : )

Take care,

Georgina

Just a quick and very good word regarding my son. All labs are normal and there are no signs of rheumatological disorders!!!!!!!!! The doc firmly believes s feet and leg problems stem from his severe flat feet. I couldnt be more relieved!!!! I want to thank each of you for the thoughts!!! AND know that my thoughts and prayers reamin each of you in this battle we all know too well. As for me I am in a state of recovery after popping my replaced (left) hip out of socket...OUCH!!!!!However and quite amazingly I popped it back into place on my own (OUCH, again). There is some inflammation and some bleeding but ortho. thinks with time it will be fine. Just another day in the life with JRA! Hugs to all Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Elisheva,

I hope the swelling goes down and that you're feeling much better, soon. I'm not familiar with cellulitis. Cellulite ... yes : ) But not cellulitis. I agree. A good night's rest is definitely very important but they say, too, that laughter is among the best medicines : ) Hopefully you'll find a happy medium. And hopefully the prednisone will pick up any slack from not having Enbrel this week.

Take care,

Georgina

Hello all,I actually want to respond to a number of posts, but I currently only have one hand to type with so it will have to wait. Over the weekend I developed a fairly bad case of cellulitis in my left hand, and I spent Sunday morning getting IV antibiotics. It's much better now, but I think the nerves got infected because I can't really move my fingers too well. Hopefully when the swelling is gone I will be able to.Anyway, of course this means I have to miss an entire week of Enbrel :-(. I'm on 10 mg prednisone, though, so I should be okay. Funny thing is, my arthritis hasn't been bothering me much at all the past few days, which is wonderful.Now if only I would stop joking with my roommates all night and get some sleep, I would be in great shape :-).I hope everybody is well. Georgina, I certainly understand Josh's ordeal with theprednisone! I hope he is feeling better now.Take careElisheva

[Guest guest]

Elish

hope you get to feeling better soon

Robbin

[Guest guest]

, it's such a relief to hear those stories

----Original Message Follows----

From: Nunnally <dezign4you@...>

Reply-hypothyroidism

hypothyroidism

Subject: Update

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 13:42:51 -0700 (PDT)

Hi everyone,

I haven't written for awhile so I just wanted to give

everyone an update. I went to a new doctor (An

Allergist who specializes in Environmental Medicine).

I live in St. Louis and he was recommended at the Top

Docs website. First of all, he did all of the proper

testing which the other doctors would not do. I can't

remember the names but basically he determined that my

problem was not my T4 (as the last 3 doctors including

an endocrinologist had told me) but my T3 levels were

low. He is giving me 1 grain of Armour a day. He

also is treating me for Candidas (overgrowth of yeast)

which he says could be causing a lot of my problems

(diffuculty with concentrating, weight gain, tiredness

and memory problems). I have to take an Anti-Fungal

medicine for 6 months to " Kill the Bug " as he put it.

The bad part is I have to take 2 pills, 4 times a day.

I'm also doing a 24 hour urine specimen collection

for Magnesium. He says a lot of people are Magnesium

deficient because their body does not absorb properly

and this also can cause a lot of the symptoms I have

been complaining about. I asked him if I could just

start taking the Magnesium and he said the testing is

better because they can determine how much I need if

any at all. After I collect the 24 hour sample, I

take it in and they give me two shots of Magnesium in

my rear, again I do another 24 hour urine sample to

see what my body absorbed. This doctor's philosophy

is " Treat the illness, not the symptoms " . He believes

too many doctors just give their patients a pill to

mask the symptoms instead of looking at the symptoms

as a warning sign and treating the illness that causes

the symptoms. He seems to be very knowledgeable and

conducts a lot of lectures across the country. It's

costing me a lot more to see him because he is an out

of network doctor in my insurance plan but I think it

will be worth it. Thanks for listening.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hooray!! Hooray!!

> Hi everyone,

>

> I haven't written for awhile so I just wanted to give

> everyone an update. I went to a new doctor (An

> Allergist who specializes in Environmental Medicine).

> I live in St. Louis and he was recommended at the Top

> Docs website. First of all, he did all of the proper

> testing which the other doctors would not do. I can't

> remember the names but basically he determined that my

> problem was not my T4 (as the last 3 doctors including

> an endocrinologist had told me) but my T3 levels were

> low. He is giving me 1 grain of Armour a day. He

> also is treating me for Candidas (overgrowth of yeast)

> which he says could be causing a lot of my problems

> (diffuculty with concentrating, weight gain, tiredness

> and memory problems). I have to take an Anti-Fungal

> medicine for 6 months to " Kill the Bug " as he put it.

> The bad part is I have to take 2 pills, 4 times a day.

> I'm also doing a 24 hour urine specimen collection

> for Magnesium. He says a lot of people are Magnesium

> deficient because their body does not absorb properly

> and this also can cause a lot of the symptoms I have

> been complaining about. I asked him if I could just

> start taking the Magnesium and he said the testing is

> better because they can determine how much I need if

> any at all. After I collect the 24 hour sample, I

> take it in and they give me two shots of Magnesium in

> my rear, again I do another 24 hour urine sample to

> see what my body absorbed. This doctor's philosophy

> is " Treat the illness, not the symptoms " . He believes

> too many doctors just give their patients a pill to

> mask the symptoms instead of looking at the symptoms

> as a warning sign and treating the illness that causes

> the symptoms. He seems to be very knowledgeable and

> conducts a lot of lectures across the country. It's

> costing me a lot more to see him because he is an out

> of network doctor in my insurance plan but I think it

> will be worth it. Thanks for listening.

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

,

It's good to hear you're having some success! Congratulations.

Tammy

Update

Hi everyone,I haven't written for awhile so I just wanted to giveeveryone an update. I went to a new doctor (AnAllergist who specializes in Environmental Medicine). I live in St. Louis and he was recommended at the TopDocs website. First of all, he did all of the propertesting which the other doctors would not do. I can'tremember the names but basically he determined that myproblem was not my T4 (as the last 3 doctors includingan endocrinologist had told me) but my T3 levels werelow. He is giving me 1 grain of Armour a day. Healso is treating me for Candidas (overgrowth of yeast)which he says could be causing a lot of my problems(diffuculty with concentrating, weight gain, tirednessand memory problems). I have to take an Anti-Fungalmedicine for 6 months to "Kill the Bug" as he put it. The bad part is I have to take 2 pills, 4 times a day.I'm also doing a 24 hour urine specimen collectionfor Magnesium. He says a lot of people are Magnesiumdeficient because their body does not absorb properlyand this also can cause a lot of the symptoms I havebeen complaining about. I asked him if I could juststart taking the Magnesium and he said the testing isbetter because they can determine how much I need ifany at all. After I collect the 24 hour sample, Itake it in and they give me two shots of Magnesium inmy rear, again I do another 24 hour urine sample tosee what my body absorbed. This doctor's philosophyis "Treat the illness, not the symptoms". He believestoo many doctors just give their patients a pill tomask the symptoms instead of looking at the symptomsas a warning sign and treating the illness that causesthe symptoms. He seems to be very knowledgeable andconducts a lot of lectures across the country. It'scosting me a lot more to see him because he is an outof network doctor in my insurance plan but I think itwill be worth it. Thanks for listening.__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sounds like a good doctor to me. My doctor also put me on liquid Magnesium (Magonate).

Nunnally <dezign4you@...> wrote: Hi everyone,I haven't written for awhile so I just wanted to giveeveryone an update. I went to a new doctor (AnAllergist who specializes in Environmental Medicine). I live in St. Louis and he was recommended at the TopDocs website. First of all, he did all of the propertesting which the other doctors would not do. I can'tremember the names but basically he determined that myproblem was not my T4 (as the last 3 doctors includingan endocrinologist had told me) but my T3 levels werelow. He is giving me 1 grain of Armour a day. Healso is treating me for Candidas (overgrowth of yeast)which he says could be causing a lot of my problems(diffuculty with concentrating, weight gain, tirednessand memory problems). I have to take an Anti-Fungalmedicine for 6 months to "Kill the Bug" as he put it. The bad part is I have to take 2 pills, 4 times a day.I'm also doing a 24 hour urine specimen collectionfor Magnesium. He says a lot of people are Magnesiumdeficient because their body does not absorb properlyand this also can cause a lot of the symptoms I havebeen complaining about. I asked him if I could juststart taking the Magnesium and he said the testing isbetter because they can determine how much I need ifany at all. After I collect the 24 hour sample, Itake it in and they give me two shots of Magnesium inmy rear, again I do another 24 hour urine sample tosee what my body absorbed. This doctor's philosophyis "Treat the illness, not the symptoms". He believestoo many doctors just give their patients a pill tomask the symptoms instead of looking at the symptomsas a warning sign and treating the illness that causesthe symptoms. He seems to be very knowledgeable andconducts a lot of lectures across the country. It'scosting me a lot more to see him because he is an outof network doctor in my insurance plan but I think itwill be worth it. Thanks for listening.__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

So nice to hear from you again : ) Sorry to hear about the Remicade not quite living up to its expectations. That's so frustrating. They really hype up some of these meds and it's always nice to hear about those who are having a great response but doesn't it sometimes make you disappointed when you're stuck wondering ... what about me ? I hope that you will eventually find something that puts this darned arthritis into remission ... and hopefully sooner, rather than later! : )

Good Luck with your upcoming knee surgery too, . I hope it goes well and that your recovery isn't too hard. Pretty soon they'll be calling you the bionic man : )

Aloha, Georgina

PS ... yea! I'm always plugging the chat rooms over at JRA World. I've heard great things about them so it's nice to have somebody else here saying a good word about them too : ) Please, folks, take up on this offer. He's one of many terrific chat leaders at ArthritisInsight.

Update

Hello I know I haven't posted here in a very long time. But I thought I would drop a line to those of you know who I am. Since the last time I posted here I have had surgery yet again. Last Aug. I had my left hip replaced finnaly after all the years I waited before doing that one. It just got to bad to live with the pain last year so I said it was time for it to be done. I have been on Remicade now just over a year and a half and it's not doing as good as I hope it would. I am up to 800 mgs each treatment. my first treatmeant at the dose was great it worked really good for the first since I started taking remicade. But this last treatment I had just three weeks isn't working nearly as good as it did the first time. I will be changing over to Kineret but not until around sept. I have another surgery that is coming up in aug this year. I was hopping to hold off on having my knee done until after dec. I was in the working of getting ready to train for the Joints in Motion Marathon in Hiwaii but now that will be put on hold until after I recover fully from the revision to my left knee. The bad part about this surgery is the have to replace the whole joint on this knee. Normally the only have to replace the plastic parts of the knee as long as everything else looks great. But the xrays on my left knee don't look in to good of shape. Another that has kept me busy this year is that I am not a leader to a local support group here in MT. But we are taking a brake from meetings during the summer months. So maybe u will see me a bit more often then I have been posting the last year 1/2. Well I must get going for now. I hope that all is going well for all of you. And one of these days it would be great to see a few of you stop by the JRA World chatroom. Until later. Take Care all JRA Worldhttp://jraworld.arthritisinsight.com

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

glad to hear your hip surgery went well for you. We met briefly last July shortly after I had joined the group. I was looking into the possibility of re-replacement of my right hip, which I have been with out since 91. Due to major infection it had been removed.

Well after examination, X-ray, cat scan and grand rounds. The doctors, assistant call me and said, " doctor has determined after the review and recommendation of the doctors at grand rounds, the you are not a candidate for surgical intervention"so my reply was " so the doctor just doesn't want to do the surgery" and the reply was " basically yes"

Sorry to hear that the remicade isn't working so well now.

My Rheum wants to put me on Remicade, but for now I'm taking Vioxx, Naprasyn and Methotrexate. Which I feel I'm responding to quite well, as I did before when I was on a combination of three other drugs, back in the late 70's early 80's.

The only thing retarding the progress of the mdes is, the lessened mobility due to the absence of the right hip joint. Which I will be seeking out another surgeon to due the procedure.

I've visited JRAWORLD a few times, but unfortunately have not made it into chat.

And I have to say, since I found the jra groups, I have come to learn so much more!

About this decease that I have been living with for so many, to many, decades.

As has so many of all of you out there, endure a life filled with Arthritis, be it childhood or adult onset RA.

So to all of you whom have taken the time to start, create and build these many support group that foster the Awayness, Education and better Understanding of Arthritis in the lifes of so many.

I Applaud Yous'

Morse

On Wed, 12 n 2002 02:39:10 -0000 "acnelson24" <> writes:

Hello I know I haven't posted here in a very long time. But I thought I would drop a line to those of you know who I am. Since the last time I posted here I have had surgery yet again. Last Aug. I had my left hip replaced finnaly after all the years I waited before doing that one. It just got to bad to live with the pain last year so I said it was time for it to be done. I have been on Remicade now just over a year and a half and it's not doing as good as I hope it would. I am up to 800 mgs each treatment. my first treatmeant at the dose was great it worked really good for the first since I started taking remicade. But this last treatment I had just three weeks isn't working nearly as good as it did the first time. I will be changing over to Kineret but not until around sept. I have another surgery that is coming up in aug this year. I was hopping to hold off on having my knee done until after dec. I was in the working of getting ready to train for the Joints in Motion Marathon in Hiwaii but now that will be put on hold until after I recover fully from the revision to my left knee. The bad part about this surgery is the have to replace the whole joint on this knee. Normally the only have to replace the plastic parts of the knee as long as everything else looks great. But the xrays on my left knee don't look in to good of shape. Another that has kept me busy this year is that I am not a leader to a local support group here in MT. But we are taking a brake from meetings during the summer months. So maybe u will see me a bit more often then I have been posting the last year 1/2. Well I must get going for now. I hope that all is going well for all of you. And one of these days it would be great to see a few of you stop by the JRA World chatroom. Until later. Take Care all JRA Worldhttp://jraworld.arthritisinsight.com

[Guest guest]

Hiya ..good to hear from you! I am so sorry Remicade isn't working well for you anymore. My daughter Tabitha has been on it since sept. of 2000..and it has done wonders for her...There is someone else on the list that said remicade worked well for awhile and then quit working..I am hoping this doesn't happen to Tabitha..would hate for her to have to switch to another medicine.

She has had both hips and knees replaced but the right knee has been locked in a bent position..which hopefully, the casting will help unlock it so it will start working again.

I had registered on your website along time ago..forgot the name i registered under..password and all..lol.So i will be registering again soon. Tabitha has been to the chatrooms and enjoyed herself.

Take care and I hope all goes well with you!!!

karen(tab17..poly)

From: "acnelson24"

Reply- Subject: Update Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 02:39:10 -0000

Hello

I know I haven't posted here in a very long time. But I thought I would drop a line to those of you know who I am. Since the last time I posted here I have had surgery yet again. Last Aug. I had my left hip replaced finnaly after all the years I waited before doing that one. It just got to bad to live with the pain last year so I said it was time for it to be done. I have been on Remicade now just over a year and a half and it's not doing as good as I hope it would. I am up to 800 mgs each treatment. my first treatmeant at the dose was great it worked really good for the first since I started taking remicade. But this last treatment I had just three weeks isn't working nearly as good as it did the first time. I will be changing over to Kineret but not until around sept. I have another surgery that is coming up in aug this year. I was hopping to hold off on having my knee done until after dec. I was in the working of getting ready to train for the Joints in Motion Marathon in Hiwaii but now that will be put on hold until after I recover fully from the revision to my left knee. The bad part about this surgery is the have to replace the whole joint on this knee. Normally the only have to replace the plastic parts of the knee as long as everything else looks great. But the xrays on my left knee don't look in to good of shape. Another that has kept me busy this year is that I am not a leader to a local support group here in MT. But we are taking a brake from meetings during the summer months. So maybe u will see me a bit more often then I have been posting the last year 1/2. Well I must get going for now. I hope that all is going well for all of you. And one of these days it would be great to see a few of you stop by the JRA World chatroom. Until later. Take Care all

JRA World http://jraworld.arthritisinsight.com

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com.

[Guest guest]

;

I was on Remicade for only six months and it stopped working,

unfortunatly because it truly was a wonder drug, I was pain free for

the first time in 21 years!!! I do hope that it does not lose it's

effect for your little girl.

[Guest guest]

>

Hello

Remicade never did work for me in the start but I try to give meds a

bit longer to work for me. Remicade is my second to last med that is

aviable for me to try. If remicade stops all togeather I will be

going on to Kineret. But I now have to wait until after my surgery is

done and over. I also have been having kidney trouble since feb. But

we still don't know what it is. There are about three different

types of kidney disease that can be related to the arthritis. I saw

my kidney doctor today and I still have to much protein. And it's a

bit higher this time. I see my kidney doctor again in Aug right

before I have my surgery on my knee to make sure that it will be ok

to go ahead with the surgery. If the protein keeps on going up then I

will have to have a kidney biospy. I am not to worry about the

kidney problem right now. I have a great set of doctors here in

montana. But I think I have 7 to many doctors to start with lol.

before my knee's were replaced in 90 both of them were frozed

bent at or around 60 degree's it put me in a wheel chair for three

years. It's just a little to hard to walk with your knee's being bent

like that. I just relized a few weeks ago I know what is causing all

my back trouble I would have to say it is from those years that my

knee's were bent like that and the little walking I did have to do

with them that way. I had both of my knee's replaced at the same

time in 90. My surgeon then told my mom that they didn't know if I

would ever walk again but needless to say they were wrong and I am

glad they were. I have been out of a wheel chair now for 12 years but

it feels so much longer then that. But I must say I have been turned

into a walking joint replacement and it all started with my first

joint replacement at the age of 13. Now I have a total of 5 different

joints replaced lucky me. But I am telling you I would do it again

and again and again. But it would of been some much easier if the

just had a complete body replacement instead of one joint at a time.

Well it's time for me to go for now. Take care and I hope your

daughter is have the least amount of pain possible.

JRA World

http://jraworld.arthritisinsight.com

[Guest guest]

Hiya ..hope you are feeling better..you was saying that your kidneys was giving you trouble..by any chance are you taking mtx.? The reason I ask is..one of Tabithas drs. told her that mtx. can cause kidney trouble..not 100% sure if that is true but it was mentioned one time to me awhile back.

Yes, I agree about joint replacements being great..The one dr. Tab had use to tease her when she was little and told her he was going to make her the bionic woman..lol! But I had moved so she ended up with another dr. He was a terrific dr..I say was because he has since passed on.

Anyways, Tab has had both hips replaced plus both knees replaced. The left knee is the one that got replaced by a dr. in Philedelphia..which turned out excellent. Then the right knee..which was done by a different dr. at Hershey(he isn't there anymore but in land) anyways, that is the knee replacement that is locked in a bent position and will be getting the cast put on this Thurs. to try and straighten it out..fingers crossed it works..because the only alternative to do next is another replacement..which would cause the right leg to be shorter. Her hips were done in Sept. of 2000 by the dr. who did her right knee replacement..now her hips are great..he did her left hip first and then her right the next week..she was in the hospital about a month.

I wish that she could get her elbows done and her shoulders..she has lost alot of range of motion in them. I had seen on the site where you got your elbow done..how is that still going. I was told that shoulder replacements don't last that long..don't know..wish i did.

Anyways, hope all goes well with you...take care ..

karen(tab17..poly)

From: "acnelson24"

Reply- Subject: Re: Update Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 03:36:36 -0000

>

Hello

Remicade never did work for me in the start but I try to give meds a bit longer to work for me. Remicade is my second to last med that is aviable for me to try. If remicade stops all togeather I will be going on to Kineret. But I now have to wait until after my surgery is done and over. I also have been having kidney trouble since feb. But we still don't know what it is. There are about three different types of kidney disease that can be related to the arthritis. I saw my kidney doctor today and I still have to much protein. And it's a bit higher this time. I see my kidney doctor again in Aug right before I have my surgery on my knee to make sure that it will be ok to go ahead with the surgery. If the protein keeps on going up then I will have to have a kidney biospy. I am not to worry about the kidney problem right now. I have a great set of doctors here in montana. But I think I have 7 to many doctors to start with lol.

before my knee's were replaced in 90 both of them were frozed bent at or around 60 degree's it put me in a wheel chair for three years. It's just a little to hard to walk with your knee's being bent like that. I just relized a few weeks ago I know what is causing all my back trouble I would have to say it is from those years that my knee's were bent like that and the little walking I did have to do with them that way. I had both of my knee's replaced at the same time in 90. My surgeon then told my mom that they didn't know if I would ever walk again but needless to say they were wrong and I am glad they were. I have been out of a wheel chair now for 12 years but it feels so much longer then that. But I must say I have been turned into a walking joint replacement and it all started with my first joint replacement at the age of 13. Now I have a total of 5 different joints replaced lucky me. But I am telling you I would do it again and again and again. But it would of been some much easier if the just had a complete body replacement instead of one joint at a time.

Well it's time for me to go for now. Take care and I hope your daughter is have the least amount of pain possible.

JRA World http://jraworld.arthritisinsight.com

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[Guest guest]

Good for you!

[ ] update

Hi friends...

Just thought I would let you knwo what the MD had

to say. He called

this afternoon, and was really upbeat about my

labs. He said that my

hepatic panel looked fantastic, and was on the low

end of normal. My

ast was 19, and my alt was 11. There will be no

biopsy at this time

because the enzymes are normal. That will only be

done if they were

to go up again. I am praying and believing that

they are going to

stay down! He wasn't too concerened about the sed

rate, but is going

to send me to a rheumy to rule out other

autoimmune disease. I think

he suspects Lupus. One stone at a time I

guess....hopefully we'll get

to the bottom of things before too long. This has

been a long,

stressful year.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Hugs-

[Guest guest]

You are so upbeat, , you are an inspiration to us all! I'll pray for you you don't have lupus. aisha [ ] update Hi friends...Just thought I would let you knwo what the MD had to say. He calledthis afternoon, and was really upbeat about my labs. He said that myhepatic panel looked fantastic, and was on the low end of normal. Myast was 19, and my alt was 11. There will be no biopsy at this timebecause the enzymes are normal. That will only be done if they wereto go up again. I am praying and believing that they are going tostay down! He wasn't too concerened about the sed rate, but is goingto send me to a rheumy to rule out other autoimmune disease. I thinkhe suspects Lupus. One stone at a time I guess....hopefully we'll getto the bottom of things before too long. This has been a long,stressful year.Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!Hugs-

[Guest guest]

Alright !!!

What great news. I hope this has helped to ease your mind a little.

Keep up the great work!

Lots of Love,

Debbie/FL

> Hi friends...

>

> Just thought I would let you knwo what the MD had to say. He called

> this afternoon, and was really upbeat about my labs. He said that

my

> hepatic panel looked fantastic, and was on the low end of normal.

My

> ast was 19, and my alt was 11. There will be no biopsy at this time

> because the enzymes are normal. That will only be done if they were

> to go up again. I am praying and believing that they are going to

> stay down! He wasn't too concerened about the sed rate, but is

going

> to send me to a rheumy to rule out other autoimmune disease. I

think

> he suspects Lupus. One stone at a time I guess....hopefully we'll

get

> to the bottom of things before too long. This has been a long,

> stressful year.

>

> Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

> Hugs-

>